PSB: The Foundations of Believability

Pseudo-Scientific Bullshit (PSB): Fiction that is explained in such a way that it has its roots firmly planted in scientific reality as we know it, and is therefore believable. PSB is one of the best methods that can be used in science-fiction to enhance suspension of disbelief and immersion. For example, given an understanding of the flexible nature of time, one could easily use PSB to explain how one character ventured to the far reaches of space in a ship that could approach the speed of light, then return having aged only months over a matter of years on Earth.

It is very important to create a game within the confines of its own defined reality. While this reality might not be explicitly defined, it must be implicitly defined. In a medieval fantasy type game, it is relatively easy to come up with PSB to explain away anything that exists within that limited reality–after all, medieval fantasy is a genre that is mixed with historical reality and magic, the former of which has documented non-fiction and latter of which is easy to fabricate (because magic doesn?t have a scientific basis for its existence) and also has its origins in myth or pure imagination.

In science-fiction settings, however, it is much more important to come up with good PSB in order for your world to be believable. Truly discerning fans of the genre will dismiss any game, novel, movie, or TV series that doesn’t have at least some foundations in reality or the science of the universe as we know it. That said, they are also some of the most forgiving fans if reality is sacrificed for heart-pumping action (for example, the method in which objects travel in space is acceptably exaggerated in almost all great films in the genre, and sci-fi fanatics are okay with that).

But sci-fi fans are smart, and they’ve done their research (not to say fantasy fans are any less smart, but sci-fi fans often boast their own theories of how the universe works, and some of them happen to actually be scientists). You need to base such a game in pseudo-reality not just by including buzz words, but by doing real research on the subject matter like many of the great authors of our time do. Name-dropping something like quantum mechanics can be great for the world or completely devastating depending on your level of understanding, as the developer, of the science behind it.

If you’re an avid reader, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Most of the best authors of science-fiction or fiction in general know their subject matter. Authors like Michael Crichton will research nano-technology (Prey) or quantum theory (Timeline) thoroughly enough that when they write about them, everything falls well into place. Even if the technology or behaviors they write about cannot yet be observed, they have solid ground to stand upon and are therefore much more believable. It’s the same for games.

Yes, you can make a sci-fi game that is all about blowing things up, shooting people with lasers, or becoming an intergalactic trade organization, but I feel the greatest of the sci-fi games will have pseudo-facts and a real story behind them (?will? is not used lightly. There are some great ones out there already, but our understanding of space is becoming more acute as time goes on, and we now have some incredible material to work with from the sciences). An engaging storyline and exciting setting are required, of course, but it’s the PSB that explains how things happened, why they are the way they are, and it is (most importantly) what sets greatness apart from run-of-the-mill.

Unfortunately, many of the games I’ve been playing during my recent “space is cool” kick don’t do their homework. If you’re making a science-fiction game or writing a science-fiction novel, please explain away discrepancies with some well-researched PSB, and I’ll promise to do the same.